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Global Aid Rethink - Episode 1

A wooden cut out of the world map on a pink and red striped background

Global Politics and Development working group convenors, Melita Lazell and Ivica Pertrikova, have launched a new podcast series — Global Aid Rethink — which is now live on Spotify and Apple Podcasts! The series will be of particular interest to BISA Global Politics and Development working group members and BISA more widely.

With global development aid at a crossroads this series invites thoughtful, and sometimes uncomfortable, conversations about what aid is really doing, and what it could be. From aid as soft power or neocolonialism, to shifts in UK/US policy, we take a step back to examine the complexities within this topic.

The opening episode responds to the recent aid cuts announced in both the US and UK — and what they signal for the future of global development and features two outstanding guests:

  • Helen Stawski, Head of Policy at Oxfam GB
  • Tamsyn Barton, former Chief Commissioner of ICAI

Both bring invaluable insights from their experience at the heart of UK and international aid.

Global Aid Rethink publishes fortnightly on Tuesdays, from 22 April 2025 to 1 July.

Please listen, subscribe, rate and share your thoughts. Your perspectives are part of this conversation.

Find out more about the Global Politics and Development Working Group

Photo by Louis Hansel on Unsplash